The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-16
THE BARRACKS LOT.
Judge Speer Thinks it an Eligible Site
for the Proposed Public Building.

relative 10 the location OF the proposed pub
lie building for the uses of the post Office
and the United States Courts in Savannah.
For the several reasons, viz: 1t is proba-
| bic much of my life-work will be done in that
| building, if it is constructed; that did all
in my power to procure the action author
izing it; and have carefully considered the
present status, and the natural consequences
of the controversy, and feel the sincerest in
terest in'the advancement Of Savannah and
the District, feel obliged to comply with
your request In fact, have already ven
tured to write to Mayor Lester, as earnestly as
l could, deprecating, with great respect, but
as strongly as | could, further efforts to de-
feat the action of the Secretary of the Treas
ury in his conscientious effort to carry out
the present generous purpose of the govern
ment, to bestow upon the city of Savannah,
and the District that great and most essen
tial Improvement
OF course, it will be understood that in
no possible event could have any judicial
duty to perform in the premises.
The impolitic, and indeed indefensible
character, Of this opposition, however hon
est, will be apparent upon the most casual
review of the situation.
For the proper performance of a public
duty every community must rely at last
upon the action of that official intrIlsted by
bAC Jaw WIFI but pei VI tlleiO Uub1
especially is this true if the official is one of
chief CONTROL the head of an executive de-
partment This proposition carries its
truth.
Now the honorable, the Secretary of the
Treasury is charged with the duty of select
ing the sites for the public buildings of the
United States. He acts through the instru-
mentalities of the Supervising Architect.
Skilled agents of the Architects Bureau,
ft.aa L.
science OF architecture, have made repeated
visits to Savannah They have considered
every possible location. A full hearing has
been accorded to every conflicting interest.
All phases of public opinion have been pre-
sented to the Treasury, through Exchanges,
Boards of Trade, petitions, public meet
lngs, by means of the press, and through
Representatives in both branches of Con-
greSs. The presiding Judges of the courts,
the government counsel, the United States
Marshal, the Collector of Customs, have all
been consulted, and their opinions consid-
cred. This has been done with unusual
elaboration and with the utmost fairness,
and when the entire case had been
made up, with due regard to every
interest, the Architect and the Secretary
of the Treasury have selected the barracks
lot. 1t is perhaps unnecessary to refer to
their earnest efforts to obtain a lot more
NOIJlkuOulS " liic DuSliltSS IOuS6S, Ill
which they were baffled First, by the
most exorbitant prices Il speak plainly; sub
sequently, by a provision placed ON an act
OF the Legislature for that purpose, prohib-
ltlng the condemnation of any lot used as a
residence, although it was publicly known
that residence lot had been selected. This
final action of an Executive Department
has all the force and effect of q Judgment
at law. For portion of these facts l refer
TO r.
For the statement that the Secretary has
finally acted, refer to an official letter to
me from the Secretary of the Treasury
himself and signed in propria persona by
Mr.. Secretary Fairchild. This was written
after all the resolutions of the several meet
ings and all the petitions and representa-
tions had reached him, and after time for
that full consideration which he must have
given them.
A step further-The District Attorney,
Mr.. Query, an able and careful lawyer, in
forms me that only one real trouble has
been developed in his almost complete ex-
animation of the title Mayor Lester, it is
claimed, owns an undivided one-hundredth
interest in the property which he has de-
clined to sell to the government, and posi-
bly, there may be few others in a similar
attitude. Notice has been served upon the
District Attorney that there will be re-
the government. There is no dispute about
the fairness of the price offered, and the
litigation manifestly is with the single pur-
pose to defeat the action of the Cabinet
officer who is charged with this duty This
will, of course, necesSitate proceeding to
condemn the outstanding interests, and with
what consequences! Divisions among the
people, the bitterness of litigation, the delay,
now already too long, in the erection of a
htyi fotl foY- ha
with all the consequent hardships upon the
officers, and difficulties in the administra-
ton of the courts to which the resolutions
of grand jury after grand jury have adj
verted, and the judges of every court testi-
fed, and which finally induced Congress
and the President to authorize a new build
ing in a city where there was already a
costly public structure for the governments
purposes.
This delay will, in measure, deprive the
working classes Of Savannah of profitable
employment: it will keep out of circulation
among its people the thousands which the
liberality of the government has intended
to expend. But more calamitous than all,
and 1 urge this with profound conviction
of its danger, and with
service and observation in Congress
have given me, is that this action by the
ing it will be construed by the Representa-
tives in Congress as refusal on the part of
the people of Savannah to permit the gov
eminent to exercise its Judgment in the Sc
lection of site for its own building, if not
refusal of the site: witt the well nigh in
evitable result that Congress will not only
refuse additional appropriations for the
building but cover back into Treasury the
appropriation already made Let me say
that TO pass a resolution to cover money
back into the Treasury is effected with more
facility than any other legislation.
Let me say further that there is a wide
spread belief that there are too many public
buildings already 1t is exceedingly diff
cult to pass bill for that purpose, and it
is also true that where one project for a
public building in town is defeated il in
creases the chances for favorable action ON
a similar bill elsewhere, and nearly every
member has a bill IN contemplation for his
district All these influences combined with
the extreme and unusual opposition TO the
action of the Administration in this matter,
ii need only be mentioned in Congress TO
defeat all subsequent appropriations. This
is especially true of a building in a city
where there already is a public building
This is the danger in the event that the pro
ceedingS for condemnation should be
successful. Should they be unsuccessful,
those who long for public building in
Savannah may give up all hope because
there will be none. There is no other loca-
ton possessing any element of suitability
yvbiOb can ha NH Exrgrrr ntbor ,,,cef-